That's a really nice route no matter how you loop it. Either 17C and / or 434 to / from Owego. Highly recommend it! This weekend has been spoken for, but perhaps sometime soon we might put together a few of us to ride together? I'd be up for it!

Don

Co-Team Leader for All Health Pros, Binghamton Area Losers & Laid Off But Staying Strong SparkTeams

Don't die with your music still in you. -- Dr. Wayne Dyer

"We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same." --- Carlos Castaneda

"You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." --- Buddha

I've done the Rail Trail...not enough room to turn for me.. plus it gets really in undated with bikers.. I do like Hickories because you can loop all over the park and up and down there small hill in the campground... One of the BCTCers suggested to go from my house on main street in ENdicott, down 17c towards Owego an then loop back 434.. But i was wondering if just going down to the 4 corners in Vestal and Hanging a right would be betterI know daytime maybe easier as there is less traffic.. But a little nervous to go solo.. I"m thinking crashes and injuries..ect...

Gwen

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.

I've biked to / from Owego on both 17C and 434 and I've got to say once you get past 4 corners 434 is pretty decent for biking. The traffic levels off and the shoulders are pretty wide. 17C is quieter, however the shoulders get sorta skimpy here & there.

When you drive around, keep your eyes open and consider the road conditions, shoulder conditions, traffic, etc to see if some of your usual routes might work for you.

For starters just looping through our local Rail-to-Trail, Otsiningo Park, Chenango Valley, etc are worth using to get your "bike legs" 'neath you.

Don

Co-Team Leader for All Health Pros, Binghamton Area Losers & Laid Off But Staying Strong SparkTeams

Don't die with your music still in you. -- Dr. Wayne Dyer

"We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same." --- Carlos Castaneda

"You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." --- Buddha

thanks Don.. i asked on the BCTC board about some easy routes... ALot suggested 434... I'm like.. Um.. Not sure on that one.. It seems WAY intimidating to try and pull off alone during the day.. ANd my comfort level is NOT quite at that point...Any suggestions???

Gwen

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.

Sidewalks become a problem because of unwitting pedestrians popping out from whoknowswhere and there tend to be more lumps & bumps around intersections.

I have little doubt that hitting the roads again this spring I'll need to be re-building my own confidence again in the busier stretches of road. It's a level of awareness that one loses when one isn't out on the road over the winter. But I know I'll get there.

see the big trucks are the reason i like the rural areas.. I grew up in a rural area.. and 95% of the time you could hear the vehicles comiing and adjust.... Main street endicott...I've decided is gonna take some courage.. I see alot of cyclists using the sidewalks...

and i hear you about the clip on shoes...thelast thing i need is to fall over at the stop signs...lol...

Gwen

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.

Mistake #1: Seat Too Low Most folks new to cycling are surprised to find out how tall in the saddle one needs to sit in order to get optimal flexing of your legs when one pedals. I know I found it hard to believe that the seat had to be higher than what I could comfortably straddle while standing. Straddling the crossbar is one thing, but it is a rare person who can sit in their bike seat and touch the ground with their feet, yet have an optimal seat height. Most commonly this isn't possible.

Mistake #2: Feet Improperly on Pedals Yep, took me time to shift my feet back so that the upper 1/3 of my foot is on the pedal, rather than having the pedal squarely in the middle of my foot. I've STILL yet to get used to using the toe-cage for pedaling, despite many co-cyclists getting after me to do this. Many MORE also say "skip the toe-cage, get clip-on bike shoes." Me? I don't like the idea of having my foot clipped to my pedals and pulling up to a stop but forgetting to unclip my feet...CRASH!

Mistake #3: Using the Wrong Gear This is one that most folks learn over time to get the right "feel" for the best gear at different times (uphill, downhill, flats, etc.)

These last mistakes all fall under the heading of my mantra: Be as PREDICTABLE as possible to the motorists around you! follow the rules of the road, just as if you were driving a car. Hold your lane. Intersections can be tricky to newbies. I still come across intersections that are BIG and BUSY! I get nervous about safely navigating them and decide to play it safe, get off and make like a pedestrian and walk through the intersection following the traffic lights.

Mistake #4: Not Stopping for a Stop Sign...bad bad mojo will come down on you if you get into this habit. I remember as a newbie being tempted and actually zipping through some stop signs / stop lights. However I've since made up my mind that I MUST follow traffic laws just like cars and not pull ANY stunts which have cars around me wondering what in the world is this wacky cyclist going to do NEXT? I figure also I can improve motorist's perceptions of cyclists if I model a well-behaved, predictable cyclist. The more we can do this the safer EVERYONE will be out on the road!

Mistake #5: Riding in the Wrong Lane Sometimes this can be tricky, figuring out the right lane. Sometimes striping for bike lanes can end such as at the intersection of Route 12 and 12A and leave a cyclist in the lurch. If unsure and shaky about what to do...? I get off and walk.

Mistake #6: Not Using Headlights and Taillights at Night Ugh...still haven't sprung for my Light & Motion Headlamp www.amazon.com/Light-Motion-Vis-Color-Size/dp/B003YLTUDA/ ...till then...? Just being very careful to time my rides so that I'm not out in the dark and wearing bright-colored clothes to enhance visibility.

Mistake #7: Not Listening - I am hyper-vigilant when riding...try to pay attention to EVERYTHING. When hearing BIG WHEELS...ala TRUCK coming up from behind I try to move as far to the right as I safely can to minimize potential problems.

It all can seem a bit overwhelming to someone new to cycling on the road, but you pick much of this up instinctively, especially when titrating your rides gradually toward busier roads with more traffic. Start off in rural, quiet spots to build your confidence.

Hope folks find my pointers helpful...!

Don

Co-Team Leader for All Health Pros, Binghamton Area Losers & Laid Off But Staying Strong SparkTeams

Don't die with your music still in you. -- Dr. Wayne Dyer

"We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same." --- Carlos Castaneda

"You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." --- Buddha

Cool article...I gotta say i've watched some of the more braver cycler's out there "cheat the light" and go through... But i gotta say as a runner around town.. I've become quite good at smacking the crosswalk light and knowing when i can run right on through and not waiting for the crosswalk signal. I call it the "smack and go". Literally hit the crosswalk button while running and run right through....

As for the cycling itself... maybe don can attest to it.. the proper bike shorts are key.. otherwise there are friiction burns in places no person should have them...lol...

Still jonesing to go to the triclub store in ithaca!

Gwen

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.

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